Otoplasty
Repair of Protruding Ears
Protruding ears are
a congenital abnormality where the ears sit further away from
the skull, resulting in the appearance of large prominent and
protruding ears.
The condition is a
result of faulty development of the natural folds of the ear and
an increase in the depth of the ear. Correction of prominent ears
is usually done at an early age, before the psychological trauma
resulting from teasing as a child. However many prominent ears
remain unrepaired till adulthood at which time the patient seeks
repair for personal and body image reasons.
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Correction of prominent
ears is the procedure to alter the size and position of the ears.
The surgical procedure is usually done under local anesthesia
with or without sedation. Correction involves the creation of
the natural folds of the ear creating a shallow ear and pinning
the ear back towards the skull.
After the surgical
procedure is completed the patient is dressed, so that the ears
are covered completely to protect the repair. This dressing or
similar dressing is kept on for three weeks to allow complete
healing to occur.
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After |
Pain and discomfort
are mild and are controlled with mild analgesics. Complications
are rare, but could occur and result in delayed healing, collection
of blood, and the skin infection with resultant ear deformity.
Choosing a qualified,
experienced plastic surgeon and the appropriate facility will
minimize unwanted side effects. |